Present of a Gown yearly to the Chaplain of the Chapel on the Bones
of the Dead, in St. Paul's Churchyard.
5 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Letter-Book I. fol. ccix. (Latin.)
At a General Court holden at the Guildhall, in the Parish of St.
Laurence Jewry, in London, on the Monday next after the Feast
of our Lord's Epiphany [6 January], in the 5th year etc., before
Richard Merlawe, Mayor, John Bartone the Elder, Recorder,
Richard Whityngtone, Robert Chichele, and other Aldermen, and
John Gedney, Alderman, and Henry Rede, Sheriffs, and an immense
number of the Commonalty;—among other things, it was agreed
that John Briggewater, Chaplain of the Chapel (fn. 1) over the Bones of
the Dead, in St. Paul's Churchyard, in London, who had exposed
himself to manifold and constant anxieties for the good and honour
of the Chapel aforesaid, which was in the patronage of the Mayor,
and to the end that in future he might the more promptly and the
more watchfully interest himself in maintaining the same, upon
seeing that his comforts were in some way attended to, should have
yearly, at the Feast of our Lord's Nativity [25 December], from
the Commonalty of the City, by the hands of the Chamberlain for
the time being, so long as he should remain in the benefice above
mentioned, one gown of the same suit or livery which the serjeants
of the Mayor and the Chamber should receive and have.
An Alderman dismissed for deafness.
5 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Journal 1. fol. 38. (Latin.)
Saturday, the of February, in the 5th year etc.; present,
the Mayor, R. Chichily, Walderne, Crowmere, Fauconer, Wottone,
Sevenoke, Nortone, Cauntbrigge, Pervys, Whityngham.—
On this day Alan Everard was dismissed (fn. 2) from the Aldermanry
of the Ward of Bredstrete, by reason of his dulness (fn. 3) of hearing
and other infirmities.
Mainprise of William Welyngtone, taken as being a Scot and a spy.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Journal 1 fol. 45. (Latin.)
On the 22nd day of April, in the 6th year etc., William Welyngtone, of London, glover, lately staying with John Carpenter of
Holborne, taken for being a Scot and a spy, was mainprised.
Confession made by a common Cheat.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Journal 1. fol. 46. (Latin.)
On Wednesday in the 6th year etc., (fn. 4) John Cornissh acknowledged that about five years before he bought, in the Parish
of All Hallows, Bredstret, 12 pounds of pepper for 17 shillings,
and shewed the owner 12 silver spoons, (fn. 5) as well as some broken
silver and jewels, and put them into a glove; which he then
suddenly changed, and delivered another glove in its place, filled
with tin spoons, beans, stones etc.
And the said Cornisshe, in the time of Walderne [Mayor], (fn. 6) on
the Feast of St. Leonard [6 November], bought of Richard Moore
some boots of divers colours for 44 shillings, and shewed the
owner three dozens (fn. 7) of silver spoons in a glove, besides a coral
necklace and other jewels, and then suddenly put into another
glove some tin spoons, peas, beans, stones etc.
And on the Eve of the said Feast of St. Leonard, in the Parish
of St. Benedict Shorhogge, he bought of John Elmeham a coverlet for 52s. 4d., and shewed him likewise a similar spoon, besides
a necklace and some jewels, and then changed them forthwith etc. (fn. 8)
Mainprise of John Cokkow, a Pedlar.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Journal I. fol. 16. (Latin.)
On Friday, the 17th day of June, in the 6th year etc., John Cokkow, of Estderam, (fn. 9) in Norfolk, pedeller, taken for divers offences,
was mainprised by Simon Flour, clerk of the Rector of the Church
of St. Nicholas Coldabbey, and John Astone, baker, until the next
Sessions, under a penalty of 10l.
False charge of oppression, made against Richard Whityngton.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Journal 1. fol. 56. (Latin.)
Tuesday, the 21st day of June, in the 6th year etc.: present, the
Mayor, Recorder, Michelle, Cauntbrigge, Widingtone, (fn. 10) and the
two Sheriffs.—
Whitingtone [and] Hert, jueller.—Came here Johanna Her[t],
Margaret, the wife of Rothewell of Hendone, and Whitingtone.—On this day, Johanna Hert, on The Holy Evangelists [acknowledged] that for hatred and wantonness, and without his deserving
it, she had oftentimes before defamed R. W. in divers of the King's
Courts and other places; saying that the same R. owed her, the
same Johanna, very many large sums of money, and that the same
R. had goods and jewels of hers to the value of many thousand
marks; whereas in real truth, and according to her oath beforementioned, she confessed that, the account being strictly balanced,
and everything taken into consideration, she owed more to the
same Richard than the said Richard owed to her, Johanna, etc.
And she begged for mercy of the said Richard, for such defamation etc. (fn. 11)
Directions as to keeping watch in certain Wards, and as to the safe
custody of William Fouchere.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Journal 1. fol. 47. (Latin.)
Tuesday, the Eve of the Apostles Peter and Paul [29 June], in
the 6th year etc.: present, the Mayor, R. Chichily, T. Fauconere,
Nicholas Wottone, H. Bartone, John Penne, Caumbrigge, Reinwell, R. Bartone, Pervys, the two Sheriffs, Louth, and Pike.—
It was ordered that the Alderman of every Ward that lies without the Gates should, immediately after the procession ended on
that night, enter his Ward, and keep watch there until 3 of the
clock; and that every Gate of the City should be shut at 10 of
the clock, and opened at 6.
Also,—that William Fouchere, who offended Thomas Fauconer
and the Court, should be kept by himself in the Compter, without
speaking to any one, save only such as should be willing to give
him counsel to amend, and to censure him for his past offences.
Punishment for insulting certain Aldermen.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Journal 1. fol. 47. (Latin.)
Saturday, the 2nd day of July, in the 6th year etc.: present, R.
Chichily, Crowmer, Fauconer, Wottone, H. Bartone, Gedeney,
R. Bartone, Caumbrigge, Reinewell, Henry Rede, the Sheriffs,
John Michell, Nortone, Pervys, Penne, Whityngham, Louthe.—
As to William Foucher, who called Nicholas Wottone, late
Mayor, (fn. 12) —"Nicholas Wytteles," (fn. 13) and said to very many persons that
if he then had possessed no more than he had when he came to the
City, he could have made an end of him,—because that the words
aforesaid, though they cannot be defined by any certain law, expressly redound to the disgrace of the judicial state in the said city,—at the instance of the said Nicholas, it was ordered that the same
William Foucher should give surety in the sum of 500 marks for
his good behaviour towards all officers etc., and that he would not
defame them.
And also,—for that by his own confession he was convicted of
being disobedient to the said Thomas Fauconer, contrary to his
oath, he was to lose his freedom, (fn. 14) it being so adjudged by the
Court, seeing that he had perjured himself.
Also,—because that the insult had been offered to such a person, one of the principal men, and a late Mayor, he was to have
imprisonment for one year, unless etc.
Also,—because that the manner of doing so was conspicuous, (fn. 15)
and the place in which it was done, a public place, it was awarded
that he as conspicuously, (fn. 16) and with no favour shown, should be led,
with his head uncovered, through the high street of Chepe, where— (fn. 17)
Proclamations for speeding men and supplies to the English Army in
Normandy.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Letter-Book I. fol. ccxii. (Norman French and Old English.)
"Let proclamation be made, (fn. 18) that all manner of soldiers, mariners, and other persons whatsoever, ordained and assigned at
wages in any manner to do service in this present expedition, the
which may God speed, betake themselves forthwith, without any
delay or excuse, to the ships and vessels at present being in the
water of Thames, for their passage and transit assigned and ordained, so as to set sail from the water aforesaid for the Port of
Southamptone at the next tide, without waiting any longer in any
way, on peril of their lives, and of forfeiture of all their goods and
chattels whatsoever." Carpenter.
"Be ther a proclamacioun made, þat alle maner of men whiche
wolle toward þe Cite of Roen (fn. 19) or eny oþer costes of Normandye,
þere to be in service, sould, or wages, with þe Kyng, our soueraigne
Lord, whom God saue and kepe, or with ony other persone of his
hoost or retenu, make and apparaile hem redy in all haste betuene
this and Sonday next comyng atte ferthest, for to be withine shipbord in here best and most defensable harneys and couenable array,
to seyle toward þe costes aboueseyd; and in þe mene while come þey
to þe Mair of þe Cite, and he shal ordeyne and dispose hem redy
shippyng in þys Port, and vitaile fre toward þe costes of Normandy,
wyn, ale, beer, fisshe, flesshe, or eny oþer maner vitaille, to refresshing of the kynges hoost or ony strenghe þat he hath take in
thilke costes; let hem in halle haste be twen this and þe forseyd
Sonday come to William Sevenok, and oþer certain Aldermen and
Comuners, that are assigned for the same thing in especial, vnto þe
Churche of Seynt Dunstanes in þe Est, in Tourstrete, and there
declare vn to hem þe certaine quantite of ther vitaile, and þey shal
assigne and dispose hem redy shippyng for her passage."
Letter from the King to the Mayor and Aldermen, requesting supplies
of provisions for the Army besieging Rouen.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Letter-Book I. fol. ccxvi. (Old English.)
"By þe Kyng.—Right trusty and welbeloued. We grete you ofte
tymes welle, and forasmoche as in þe name of Almighty God, and in
oure right, wiþ Hys grace we haue leyd þe siege afore the Cite of
Roan, which is the most notable place in Fraunce, saue Paris; atte
which siege vs nedeþ gretly refresshing for vs and for our hoost;
and we haue founde you our trewe lieges and subgitz, of good wille
at al tymes to do al thing þat might do vs worshippe and ese,
wherof we can you right hertely thank; and pray you effectuelly
that, in al the haste that ye may, ye wille do ariue as manie
smale vessels as ye may goodly, with vitaille, and namly (fn. 20) with
drinke, for to come to Harfleu, and fro þennes as fer as they may,
up þe riuer of Seyne to Roan ward wiþ þe said vitaille, for the
refresshing of vs and our said hoost, as oure trust is to you; for
the which vessels þer shal be ordeigned suffisant conduyt, with
Goddes grace; wetying welle also þat ther inne ye may don vs right
gret plesaunce and refresshing for al oure hoost aboue sayd, and yeue (fn. 21)
vs cause to shewe þerfor to you euer the better lordshippe in tyme
comynge, wyth the help of Oure Saueour, the which we praye þat He
haue you in Hys sauf-warde. (fn. 22) Yeuen vnder our Signet, in our hoost
afore the sayd cite of Roan, þe x day of August.—
"To oure right trusty and welbeloued þe Mair, Aldermen, and al
the worthi Communers of our Cite of London."
Proclamation for speeding men to the English Army in Normandy.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Letter-Book I. fol. ccxvii. (Old English.)
"Be ther a proclamacion made, þat alle maner men þat wil toward
þe costes of Normadye, þere to be soulded or waged wiþ þe Kyng,
our soueraigne Lord, or eny oþer lord of his hoost or retenu, let
hem arraye and make hem redy in þe best wyse þat þey can or may,
in alle hast, and come to Seint Dunstanes in þe Est, a Monday þat
next comeþ, at eyghte of clok, to William Seuenok, Alderman, and
hys felawes, þat arn assigned þerfor in especial, and þey shal be
assigned redy shippyng and passage, and eche of hem shal haue a
noble for to vitaile hym with toward þe costes abouesaid."
Carpenter.
Assessment of the prices to be paid for the ale and beer supplied to the
English army besieging Rouen.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Journal I. fol. 48. (Latin.)
Thursday, the 15th day of September, in the 6th year; (fn. 23) present,
the Mayor, Sevenok, Reinwell, Pervys, Arnold, Mirivale, (fn. 24) Beterenden.—
It was ordered that the brewers (fn. 25) of the ale that was presented to
our Lord the King, at the siege of the City of Roan, should have
for every tun of 200 tuns of ale, 30 shillings; and that the same
brewers should pay for the vessels holding such ale, and for the
hooping of such vessels;—making in all, 300l.
And that the turners should have 4s. for every hundred of
2500 cups—in all 100s. (fn. 26)
And that the rowers (fn. 27) should have for the 515 tuns, (fn. 28) at 4d. the
tun—8l. 11s. 8d.
Also, that the wyndrawers (fn. 29) should have 3d. for every tun; and
that the carters should have 4d. for every tun.
And that the brewers of ber (fn. 30) should have 13s. 4d. for every tun
of 300 tuns—making 200l.
Mainprise of a Citizen imprisoned on suspicion of Lollardy.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Journal 1. fol. 50. (Latin.)
Be it remembered, that Thomas Jolyf, citizen and armourer of
London, who by way of precept of Sir John, the Duke of Bedford, had been before arrested, in the 5th year of the King now
reigning, namely, in the time of Richard Merlawe, then Mayor of
the City of London, on suspicion of Lollardy, was now mainprised. (fn. 31)
Enactment as to the prices of mussels, oysters, salt, and whiting.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Journal 1. fol. 51. (Latin.)
Sevenoke, Mayor.—Thursday, the 3rd day of October, in the
6th year etc.; present, the Mayor, Recorder, Knolles, Merlawe, R.
Chichele, Walderne, Crowmere, Fauconer, Wottone, H. Bartone,
Nortone, Penne, Pike, Cauntbrigge,Wedingtone, the two Sheriffs.—
It was ordered, that oysters and mussels should be sold at 4d. the
bushel, 2d. the half bushel, one penny the pec, and the half peck
at one halfpenny; (fn. 32) the assize being in all measures observed.
It was also ordered, that the salt which had been bought by Bemonde and Edwarde, salters, within the City, should be sold at
the price at which they bought it, for the common good of the
people.
It was enjoined upon the Masters of the Fishmongers of the one
Street and the other, (fn. 33) that they should diligently take measures
among themselves for setting the lowest price they conveniently
might, for the easement of the people; and that they should give
orders that the whiting taken in the Thames, (fn. 34) and coming by water,
should be sold (fn. 35) at the quay where the vessel is moored, and then
be carried to Fish Street for sale.
Caps forfeited for being fulled at mills.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Letter-Book I. fol. ccxxii. (Latin.)
At a Court of our Lord the King, holden before the Mayor and
Aldermen, in the Guildhall of the City of London, on the
next after the Feast of St. Leonard (fn. 36) the Abbot [6 November], in
the 6th year etc.;—Thomas Taillour, citizen and hurer of London,
was attached to make answer to the Commonalty of the said city
in a plea that, whereas by authority of the same Court it had been
ordained from of old, at the prayer and by assent of the whole of
the commonalty of the trade of Hurers in the said city, and till
then continually approved and accustomed, that no one of the said
trade shall full, or cause to be fulled, at any mill any caps or
hures, on pain of forfeiting all work found so fulled, the first time,
and paying 6s. 8d. sterling to the use of the Commonalty of the
city aforesaid etc.; he, the said Thomas, caused 6 double round
caps, 18 long caps, 6 children's long caps, and 24 single, or simple,
caps, upon him taken by John Randolf, John Batte, and Richard
Flete, now Masters of the trade aforesaid, and here to this Court
presented, to be fulled at the mill etc., against the force and form
of the Ordinance aforeszid.
And the said Thomas Taillour now came here, (fn. 37) and the whole
Ordinance being read to him of which mention is made above, as
entered in Book H fol. xlix., (fn. 38) he acknowledged and expressly confessed that all the caps aforesaid had been fulled at the mill etc.
Wherefore, it was then and there adjudged by the Court that the
same Thomas, who was then for the first time convicted of this
offence against the said Ordinance, should forfeit all the caps afore
said, and should pay to the use of the Commonalty 6s. 8d. sterling.
And the said caps were then delivered to the Chamberlain as forfeited; and the same Thomas was committed in custody, until he
should have satisfied the Commonalty as to the sum of 6s. 8d.
aforesaid.
Proclamation made at the Pillory, upon punishment for forgery.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Letter-Book I. fol. ccxxiii. (Old English.)
"For as myche as Nichol Wighe, (fn. 39) oþherwise callyd 'Nicholas Ket'ringham,' oþerwise callyd 'Johan Segrave,' otherwise callyd
'Nicholl Pecche,' þat here stont up on þe pillory, is opynly conuict
and atteynt afor þe Meir and Aldremen for a comune mysdoer and
disceyour of peple, and a fals contrefetour of lettres and mennys
sealx; and especiali for a lettre which he broght late in þe name of
Sir Nichol Pecche, Knyght, to Herry Somer, for to have borwyd x li. (fn. 40)
with an obligacioun of xx li. for seurete of repayement þerof, vndir
þe same Knyghtes sele, as he seyde; whiche lettre, obligacioun, and
sele, were neuere made ne selyd by þe same Knyght, but falsly
contrefetid and forged by þis same man þat here stant, as it is
opynly and lawfully knowyn and provid afor þe Meir and Althermen. And for as myche also as þis same man þat here stant on þe
pillori on lik wyse disceyvid and begilyd Nicholl Carrewe, Squyer,
with such another lettre and obligacion, falsly contrefetid and forgyd
undur þe name and seel of þe same Sir Nichol Pecche, Knyght, as it
is euidently knowyn to þe forseyd Meir and Aldermen:—therfor þe
seyd Mair and Aldirmen, considering how such worthy persones as
þe same Knyght is, thurgh such falsnes in tyme comyng myght lightly
and causeles renne in sclaundre, and oþir men in grete harme ana
losse, yef such falsnes and disceyt shold passe unponysshid, han
awardid, aftir þe custume of þe Citee, in exaumple þat al oþer shul
þe rather eschewe al such falsnes and disceyt, þat he shal stonde
here on þe pillorie thre market dayes, eche day an hool hour, with on
of his fals lettres be hym falsly and disseiuably contrefetid and forgid
hangyng about his nek etc; and aftir þe execucioun of þis iewesse
the thrid market day, (fn. 41) to be led from þis pilory to Newgate, þerein
to abyde unto he have found seurte of his trewe gouernaunce and
good beryng in tyme comyng."
Proclamation at Christmas, against Mumming, Plays, Interludes, and
Visors; and that a Lantern shall be kept burning before each house.
6 Henry V. A.D. 1418. Letter-Book I. fol. ccxxiii. (Old English.)
"The Mair and Aldermen chargen on þe Kynges byhalf, and þis
Cite, þat no manere persone, of what astate, degre, or condicioun
þat euere he be, duryng þis holy tyme of Cristemes be so hardy in eny
wyse to walk by nyght in eny manere mommyng, pleyes, enterludes,
or eny oþer disgisynges with eny feynyd berdis, (fn. 42) peyntid visers,
diffourmyd or colourid visages in eny wyse, up peyne of enprisonement
of her bodyes, and macyng fyne aftir þe discrecioun of þe Mair and
Aldremen; outake (fn. 43) þat hit be leful to eche persone for to be honestly
mery as he can, with in his owne hous dwellyng. And more ouere
þei charge on þe Kynges byhalf, and þe Cite, þat eche honest persone,
dwellyng in eny hye strete or lane of þis Citee, hang out of her hous
eche night, duryng þis solempne Feste, a lanterne with a candell
þer in, to brenne (fn. 44) as long as hit may endure, up peyne to pay ivd. (fn. 45)
to þe Chaumbre at eche tyme þat hit faillith."